Local News

A Rockwood Middle School student died Sunday from spinal meningitis at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
The community had rallied around 12-year-old Morgan Peters, holding a prayer vigil for her last week in hopes that the very sick sixth-grader would pull through.
A Facebook page called Team Morgan was even created and children wore specially created shirts in her honor.
“Obviously, by the outpouring of people, you can tell how well she was loved,” said her father Andy Peters. “She was definitely a hugger.”

By DAMON LAWRENCEdlawrence@roanecounty.com
Dalton Broshears, a 4-year-old Roane County boy, could have everlasting scars from a pit bull attack that occurred earlier this week.
“He’s lost an ear,” grandmother Ann Wells said.
The attack occurred on Monday at 542 Emory Heights Road. According to a dispatch report, Annette Broshears called 911 and reported one of her dogs had bitten off her son’s ear.
Dalton was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

A man suspected of robbing the Bank of America in Kingston on May 1 wasn’t on the run for long.
According to a news release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Billy Joe Dugard, 36, was arrested in Columbus, Ohio on May 2.
The FBI said Dugard, of Crothersville, Ind., will be charged in federal court in Tennessee for robbing the Bank of America and a BB&T in Loudon County.
Both robberies occurred on May 1 less than an hour apart.
Dugard reportedly entered each bank, handed a note to the teller and demanded money.

The memory of John Calvin Henry, the namesake of The Henry Center, was honored recently by a state-level resolution.
The Henry Center, a daycare facility for children with and without disabilities, is part of the Michael Dunn Center’s services to those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
John Henry died late last month.
His parents, Jim and Pat Henry, have been long-time advocates for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities — even before John’s birth.

By MIKE GIBSONnewsroom@roanecounty.com
Kingston officials may finally have the go-ahead to use leftover waterline funds to shore up its sewer system.
For months, the city has been in a quandary as to how to use monies available after the completion of a sewer project on Gallaher Road, enabled by a federal grant and loan program.

STAFF REPORTS
A member of the South Roane County Volunteer Fire Department recently confessed to setting nine fires, according to a press release from the Roane County Sheriff’s Office.
Suspicion began to arise about Keith L. Hephner Jr. when firefighters responded to a structure fire on Laurel Bluff Road on April 20.
“Firefighters on the scene felt there was evidence of arson,” the release said. “The sheriff’s office arson investigation division was called to the scene and found evidence that was of suspicious nature.”

Two pit bulls that reportedly attacked a 4-year-old boy are set to be euthanized after a 10-day quarantine.
“Since they have bit somebody, we have to hold them for 10 days for observation,” Roane County Animal Control Officer Josh Strickland said. “After that, we can put them to sleep.”
Annette Broshears called 911 on Monday just before 1 p.m. and reported one of her dogs had bitten off her son’s ear. The Roane County Sheriff’s Office, medical personnel and animal control responded to the home at 542 Emory Heights Road.

The circumstances surrounding the death of a 2-year-old Roane County boy remain under investigation, but authorities have determined a cause of death.
An autopsy was conducted on Clifford Dotson on Friday. Roane County Sheriff’s Office investigator Art Wolff said preliminary findings indicate the boy died of severe malnutrition.
Wolff said he was notified at 4:50 a.m. on May 3 that a mother had taken a toddler to Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City.
Wolff said the toddler was dead on arrival.

Kingston parks and recreation department is hosting the Battle of the Bands fundraiser Friday adjacent to Byrd Field. The event, located at 1150 Sevier Perry Road, will begin at 6 p.m. and will help pay for programs on July 4 and for the Kingston Country Fair.
Interested bands of any genre are encouraged to enter. The only requirement is that bands cannot have a CD that they are marketing.

Roane County United Way’s fourth annual “Family Fun Day” will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Roane State Community College.
“We invite folks to come out and show their support to the dedicated and hardworking organizations that help meet the needs of our community with the many resources and services that they offer,” said Amy Harmon, United Way executive director.